Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-10
The Todd Case.


fifty persons were present. Mayor Trim
mer acted as moderator, and Mr. G. A.
Snow ball as stated clerk. The charge was
reported to be in flourishing condition,
numerically, spiritually and financially. G..
A. Snowfall and Chas. II. Wilmington were
unanimously elected elders, and A. H. Rose
berry trustee.
a committee consisting of Maitland c..
Bennett, w. Clark, Harry Shoemaker, r. O..
Chamberlain and Richard Mlligan was then
appointed to express the sense of the meet
ing concerning the action Of the SO called
indignation meeting of July %, and they
reported as follows:
Your committee report that on July % a
meeting WAS held at Manassas, which took
action extremely unjust to this church and
subversive of our rights as citizens. There
was no invitation to the public, and the call
for the meeting has never been published,
but On careful examination of the list of
names published as signers to the call, we
arc unable TO find the name of single
member of any branch of the Pres
byterian Church. We also believe
that over three-fourths of the signers
are members OF no religious body whatever.
Although q large section of our country was
energeticalIy canvassed, and although our
county has population ofnearly 10, 900, the
names as published are only 276, and the
actual attendance was about 100. So far
from its being "a meeting of the citizens CT
Manassas" as published, at least five sixths
of the signers to the call reside outside the
corporation Of Manassas, and we believe
that majority of Paid meeting, as we'll as
of those most active in it, reside nearer our
court house than our own village.
We therefore recommend the passage Of
the following resolutions:
l. That we who for ten years have been
associated with Rev. Francis M. Todd as our
pastor are better ablo to judge his Christian
character than those who have never heard
him preach and who only know him by
sight and name.
,. That the church renews her expression
of confidence in the character and ability Of
Mr.. Todd. and coDgratulates him on his &C
quittal by the Presbytery from the charges
made against him, and in his long continued
persecution extends to him and his family
her warmest sympathies
8. That we decline to be influenced now
or hereafter either by private whispe,ings or
by ex parte aflidavits until some one has
sufficient confidence in them 10 prefer
charges and face the responsibilities of
trial, and wo shall believe Mr. Todd limo.
cent until he is pronounced guilty after fair
trial by the proper tribunal.
t. That the fact that no husband, father
or brother has ever made complaint against
the treatment of any lady friend by our pas.
tor should be strong evidence TO the public
MUD that our Judgment of his Christian
character is correct.
5. That as law abiding citizens, who pay
our taxes, obey the laws, and render sup
port to civil authority, we claim and demand
its protection for ourselves and our pastor in
our right TO manage our church affairs in
our own way without dictation or interior
ence from those who do not attend our
church and never contribute to its sup
port.
6. That we feel called upon TO sternly re
hnke the spirit that would retry our pastor
after his acquittal, and drive n law. abiding
taxpayer from our community, "whether
or guilty." by decree pronounced
upon our street corners, and We empbatical-
ly condemn the spirit which makes it un-
pleasant for the ladies of our congregation
to walk cur streets, and which puts the
peace and reputation of every person that
chooses to form an opinion of his own ut
the mercy Of n self constituted and rrespon
sble tribunal
Z. That, in view of the personal violence
offered six years since to MIR. Todd and to
some of his friends and the assault then
made on our church building with stones
during our Sunday night service, as well as
the more recent threats of the most brutal
kind, we call with confidence on tho many
lovers of justice and fair dealing in our
county, whether friendly or hostile TO Mr..
Todd, and withaut regard TO creed, sex,
race, or political faith, TO give 10 us the same
rights of opinion that they claim for them.
selves. We claim the right TO worship God
to the dictates of our own con-
sciences, and to employ pastor in whom we
have confidence, and we should be unworthy !
he name of Americans orVirginians or chris. |
jams should we not claim for ourselves all !
;he rights which we concede to every |
Catholic or Protestant, and to |
hose who are believers in no religion what
sver. We respectfully submit that the |
spirit that denies us these rights would drive |
and capital froru our county |
erial and moral prosperity of olIr village
Tho report of the committee was APPROX
ID by rising vote, and was unanimously
.dopted.
A communication was read from Elder
'laught, of the Nokesville church, that the
members of that church would stand by the
ction of the Manassas church.
Mr. Isaac u. Baldwin then came forward
nd asked tho privilege of saying word,
hough not member OF the church. He
hen, in neat speech, presented Mr..
Todd an envelope containing 1925 as a con-
ributon toward assisting him in paying the
expenses Of the unjust prosecution to which
10 had heen subjected.
Mr.. Todd then asked his usual summer
acation, which was unanimously granted
i'm Some provision was then made for
epairs to the church, and the meeting adj
burned.
Tho following is copy of lettor ad-
ressed to Rev. Mr.. Todd by members of
is congregation
MANASSAS. Va, July Is, 1856.
REV. F. M. TODD Dear Sir: In view of
Ia fiery trials to which You have recently I